New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-10
liberty. 10 10 Also the safsty-vsIve BY
which . foreign war n utilised TO sx-

liberty. 10 10 also the safsty-vaIvs by
which . foreign war h utilised TO sx-
haust domestic discoutent and aspiration. In all
these cases popular inherited prejudicea dislikes.
narrow views, ara found sctively operating against
the inception Of those psnsive projects OF rster-
nization which oan alone educate Europe TO per-
oeve the rulnous folly OF tho present system. ana
/ the ability of the common people everywhere 70
reform 1t bv entering into . union which does not
even demand a great advance IN self-abnegatlon
wbicn indeed only calls for the surrender OF those
barbarous and unchnstIan tendencies and disposi-
tIons which are already plainly condemned and
dIscredited by their cost and by the general injury
they infict.
| How far Europe, nav, the world, is from being
prepared for so SIMPLE practical and common-sense
q reform mov ement, may be gathered from almost
any newspaper any day Of the year. AT this
moment observers doubling the possibility OF
much longer pOstponing war certain TO have ue-
mendous consequences and to produce fnghtful
suffering. Everywhere the old military sys-
TEN IS not merely regarded with complacency but
is being xtcnded, broadened. made comprchcn-
sive and more oppressive. This the trend OF mod
ern progress; of European progress at least As
suredly II affords little hope of that federation Of
the world imagined by young poet half CEN
fury ago. Assuredly IL presents few reasons for
one after another every revolutionary movement
on the Continent have been utgrOwn or have gwen
place to wider views and more promising pohti-
cal programme. Nor can il be said that Mr.. Man
rice's book 10 fitted to guido tho student to the
most instructive lessons of the period with
which 1t is concerned. It's usefulness consists
IN the fact that 1t gives birdseye view
of events tho common aud easily accessible records
of which scattered and disconnected 1t shows,
too the nature of the threads which connected the
various revolutionary movements. for the most
part clearly enough. But it does not 80 much as
touch upon the fundamental Deficiencies of every
European revolution mp to the present time. nor
bring into strong relief the OF view the
shallOwness OF judgment. displayed BY even
Kossuth aud Mazzn in respect to the elem 'ntary
principles Of all successful contention for freedom
lis interest, indeed lies rather what 1t suggests
than in what 1t SAYS. The author has made a care
full and almost microscopic analysis OF the period.
and Las performed this work conscientiouNy and
we |. He writes clearly and pleasantly. with
out pre,ence or affec alton, and never
sacrifices ucidity to effect. As chrOn-
cler his fidelity is co nmendtbe. As an
expositor his help IS less valuable. He sees the
causes of failure which lie on the surface, and
points them out candIdly. Tut he evidently holds
that had these causes been absent removable the
results woud have been different, and here he
ceases to he trustworthy. Capacity for self govern
ment implies great deal in the line OF perception
no ess than abstentIon; and until the peoples IF
Europe recognize the identity OF the agencies which
stard between them and freedom. il must be re-
garded as inevitable that they should rcvolve IN
the old vicious circle. now approaching, now re-
cedIng from the llghl. bnt ever held back by the
shackles which none but themselves eau strike of.